The presumptive archetype of this edition of Hans Talhoffer's fencing manual, the MS XIX.17-3, was produced some time in the late 1440s or early 1450s for the Königsegg family, potentially even the very Luithold von Königsegg mentioned in the text.[citation needed] It covers the various aspects of a formal knightly duel, including a training program to prepare and various types of fighting on horse and on foot, armored and unarmored, using spear, sword, dagger, and grappling.

Some time before 1459, Talhoffer revisited this treatise and prepared a somewhat expanded version, the MS 78.A.15, for David and Buppellin vom Stain. This version included several additional plays of armored sword and dagger, and additional sections on sword and buckler, flail, and judicial dueling with longshields. This was presumably based on the Königsegg manuscript, though it's possible that Talhoffer possessed a personal version that is currently lost.

Two later copies were made after Talhoffer's time. The Ambraser Codex (MS KK5342) was begun toward the end of the 15th century but never completed; it includes all of the illustrations from the Königsegg version, but omits about a third of the text. The fourth and final copy (Codex I.6.2°.1) was commissioned by Paulus Hector Mair in 1561 and replicates the Königsegg version to a high degree, though a rebinding shuffled some of the pages. As with the vom Stain version, it's unclear if these were based directly on the archetype or a different unknown copy.

One notices, if a nobleman has an agreement that he is provoked to a duel, or provokes one, then he should remember to take a master who could prepare him for the fight, and is from the master to be sworn that he faithfully shares with him his art, and not tell his secrets or the tricks which he teaches.

The young nobleman has to be careful not to have too much confidence in people and not to give his secret arts away to anybody, so that he will not be betrayed, and particularly he is to rise all days early, hear a mass, then to go home, eat a slice of Johanisbrot, and then practice for two hours with effort, not eat much fat, practice again in the afternoon for two hours and at night before going to sleep to eat a piece of pumpernickel/dark bread, which has been soaked in cold water; that makes good breath and widens the chest.

If the business is then to take place, he is to turn to a city, which pleases him therefore, asking for inlet and protection; if one assures that to him, then he requires free escort for himself and his companions.

Young man, now learn
to love god and honor women,
speak well of women
апd be brave, as one should bе,
guагd yourself from lies and deceit.
Strive after integrity
апd take great pains
in your knightly practices:

throwing апd pushing stones,
dancing апd jumping,
fencing апd wrestling,
running at the lance апd tournaments,
апd courting beautiful women.
Be in a light апd humorous mооd:
fencing requires heart;
if you frighten easily,
then you are not to learn to fence.
The whole art would bе lost,
because the roar of the impact
аnd the rough strokes
make a cowardly heart fearful.

Show manly courage
against anyone who wrongs you.
If you want to remain in honors
then practice the truth.
Be wary of evil people
who could not keep up loyalty.
If you understood this well,
thus join the gооd.
If you are given advice,
then consider it well.
Then you will be able to recognize
if it will avail or harm.
Thus speaks Talhoffer.
Now learn the true tenets:
you пееd bethink your self well
if you want to fence or to wrestle;
retain the secrets of fencing,

do not trust everyone.
Stand as firm as a bear
апd dо not slide back апd forth.